Shock-absorber.



E. M. MAY. SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION. FILED APR. 1'2. 1916- RENEWED SEPT. I 19!?- 1,242,5?4. 7 I Patented Oct. 9,1917.

I L & a

I EDWARD M. MAY. or Ann-jARBomMIcHIeAN.

srrooK-ABsoRBEn.

Application filed April 12, 1916, Serial No. 90,608.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD'M. MAY a.

citizen of the United States, and resident ofthe city of AnnArbor, county of Washtenaw, and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-Absorbers of which the following is a specification. I i

My invention relates to shock absorbers for motor vehicles or the like. i

The primary object of my invention is to provide a shock absorber or spring construc tion for motor vehicles that will not rebound too suddenly, but will rebound just fast enough to make it comfortable for pants of the vehicle.

the occu- A second object of the present invention isv to provide a spring construction that will not be disto'rtedshould the vehicle hit an -ob' struction. I

A- further object of myinvention is to provide aspring construction which is so arranged that any one of thesprings may-be Eemoved easily should it be necessary to A still further object of the invention is to provide a spring construction'that may be easily applied to any automobile or the like.

' The above and other objects and advan-" tages of my improvement will fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and be explicitly defined in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings, 1 p

Figure 1 is a rearelevation of an automobile showing the manner in whichthe rear shock absorber is applied.

. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. v. 1

Fig. '3 1s a longitudinal sectlonal view of one of the channel-shaped members-showing the manner in which the springs are connected therewith. I

Fig.4 is a detail sectional view on the line Hof Fig. 5, showing the'arrangement for regulating the friction between the springs in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a SldQ'GlBVEtlllOIl showlng the side bar of the chassis of-an automobile and the side shock absorbers connected with the axle Fig. 7 is-another modification ofthe'side shock absorber.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Reriewd September 1, 191?. seria1'm;-1s9,421.

Referring more'particularly to the drawing, thenumeral 1 0 designates a rearaxle of a motor vehicle upon which are mounted the wheels 11 and 12. 13 designates the cross bar of the chassisupon which is mounted the body 14 of the vehicle. 4

Depending downwardly from the opposite faces of the cross bar 13 and at its ends are the spaced parallel supporting members 15 which are secured to the cross bar 13 by means of screws 16 or the like.

Extending obliquely from the axle 10 are the projections 17. Pivotally connected with these projections 17 as at 19 are the links 20.

Arranged between the supporting inembers 15 are the longitudinalchannel-shaped PatentedO et. 9; 1917.

members 21- "and 22. These channel-shaped 7 members are looped upon themselves at their lower ends to provide the loops 23. "Extend ing throu-ghktlieloops 23 andthe lower ends of the-links 120 are thepins 24:.

Sec-uredwi-thin' the channel-shaped members 21 and 22 attheir upper ends is apluralit'y of superposed leaves 29 and 30. The

springs 30 'are' longitudinally curved and are relatively long, while the members 29 are relatively short and are non-resilient. As

clearly shown-in Fig. 3, the springs'are arranged alternately, a long. spring 30 and then a short spacer 29'of non-resilientmaterial. While I'have deseribed'the members 29 and 30as being ofdifi'erent lengths, theymay all be of the same resilient quality'if it arcuate seat- 32 therein. Extending through the channel-shaped members, the sprin s 30 and spacers'29 and the-plate 31 are the 3 'olts 3'3. Seated within the seats 32 are the-sleeves 34. Extending through the lower ends of the members 15 and throughthe sleeve's 32 are the removable bolts 27; The-springs '30 extend out 'o f the open ends o'f the channel shaped membersand are arrangedin-o'verlapping relation and are adapted for longitudinal sliding movement.

Engaging these springs 30 is a'band '35 which isjpreferably rectangular. A setscrew36 extends "through "this band and engages the-uppermost springwhile an adjustable screw 37 carrying a washer 38 extends through the band and bears against the'bottommost-spring. The purposeof thisfband 35 and the adjustable screw 37 is'to regulate Engaging the friction between the springs. It will thus be seen that by turning the screw 37 the friction between the springs may be 621811;? varied. The purpose of the washer 38 is to retain the screw 37 against rotation.

This construction that T have just described is the rear shock absorber. T will now proceed to describe the side shock absorbers.

The numeral 39 designates a longitudinal side bar of the vehicle chassis. Depending downwardly from this side bar are the supporting members it) and ell which are ident cal with the supporting members 1:). Mounted between the supporting members lO is a longitudinal channel-shaped member 43 which is identical with the members 21 and 2-2. Engaged in the members 12 and 43 and extending therefrom are the superposed longitudinally bowed springs 44, the buter ends of which are arranged in overlapping relation. The opposite ends of these springs are connected with the channel-shaped members a2 and 4:3 in the same manner as the springs 29 and 30 are connected with the members 21 and 22. Alsoengaged in the channel-shaped member 48 is a longitudinal plate 4A which extendsv in parallel relation to the springs 44. This plate 4A is of non-resilient metal. 'A friction regulating device identical to the one above described is engaged about the s rings 4M and member 1 1. It will be seen that by providing the non-resilient member 44: which bears against the band 35 that the band is not subjected to any strain.

Engaged upon the axle 10 is a-detachable collar {45 having an upwardly extending perforated ear extending therefrom. A pin 4:7 pivotally connects the ear e6 wlth the lower end of the channel-shaped member l3.

Fig. ('3 shows a slightly modified form of the side shock absorber. Referring to this figure the numerals l0 and 41 indicate the downwardly extending supporting members. Arranged between these members 410 and 4-1 are the springs 49 and spacer members. The inner ends of the springs 49 extend toward each other and are arranged in overlapping relation while the members 50 are relatively short. These springs are arranged alternately, a long spring 49 and then a short spacer member 50. Arranged upon the bottommost spacer member 50 and extending parallel with the same is a non resilient member 51. Engaged upon the under face of the member 51 and the'under face of the bottommost spring 19 and connected with the supporting members 40 and 4.1 as at are the plates 3 Extending through the Springs &9 and 50, the member 51 and the plates 81 are the bolts 53. En gaged about the ends of the members 49 and 50 and the member 51 is a friction regulating device 35.

Fig. 7 shows another modification of the side shock absorbers. Referring to this figure the numeral indicates a channelshaped member which is connected with the side bar of he chassis. A. channelsiaped member 55 is arranged. upon a vehicle axle 56 and is connected thereto by means of an arcuate strap-5T. Pivotally connected with the outer ends of the members 5+l and 55 are the open endedmembers 58. Secured withinthe members 54 and and 58 and extending out'of the open ends thereof is a plurality of overlapping springs 59. Engaged about these overlapping springs a re the friction regulating devices 35.

From the above description it will become apparent that should the vehicle hit an 0bstruction, the springs will slide upon each other, thus being prevented from being distorted. It will also be seen that when the vehicle hits an obstruction the springs will not rebound too suddenly owing to the friction between the springs.

lVhile l have set forth the preferred embodiments of my invention, 1 wish it understood, hov ever, that this disclosure is only illustrative and that the principle of my in-v vention can be embodied in constructions other than the ones specified.

Having described my invention what I believe to be new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. The combination with a supported axle, of longitudinally bowed channel-shaped members pivotally connected with the'axle at their lower ends, a vehicle chassis'havmg connection with the channel-shaped members at their upper ends, and a plurality of superposed springs ext-ending from the channel-shaped members and arranged in overlappingrelation. I

2. The combination with a supported axle and a vehicle chassis, of chiannel-shaped members having their lower ends pivotally connected with the outer ends of the axle and their upper ends extended toward each other, said upper ends being operatively connected with the chassis, and a plurality of sprlngs extending from the channelshaped members and arranged in overlapping relation, said springs being capable of longitudinal movement.

8. The combination with a supported axle and a vehicle chassis, of channel-shaped members having their lower ends pivotallv connected with the opposite ends of the axle and their upper ends operatively connected with the chassis, the upper ends of the channel-shaped members being open, and leaf springs extending from the open ends of the channel-shaped 'members and arranged in overlapping relation, said springs being capable of longitudinal movement.

4-. The combination with a supportedaxle and a vehicle chassis, of-channel-shaped members having their lower ends pivotally connected with the axle and their upper ends extended toward each other, said upper ends being operatively connected With the vehicle chassis and a plurality of overlapping springs extending from the channelshaped members.

5. The combination with a supported axle and a Vehicle chassis,' of spaced parallel Gopies of this patent may be obtained for supportingmembers depending from the chassis, channel-shaped members pivotally connected with the axle and extending between the supporting n'iembers, means passing through the supporting members and pivotal'iy connecting the upper ends of the channel-shaped members, and overlapping springs extending From the channel-shaped members.

EDWARD M. MAY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. i 

